Gilbern Genie (1966 to 1969)

The Gilbern Genie was produced between 1966 and 1969, serving as the larger, more powerful successor to the original Gilbern GT. Moving away from the smaller BMC powerplants, the Genie was designed specifically to house the Ford Essex V6 engine, offered in both 2.5L and 3.0L displacements, which provided a significant leap in grand touring performance. It featured a sophisticated multi-tubular steel spaceframe chassis clothed in a sleek, fiberglass (GRP) 2+2 body, and a highly capable rear suspension setup utilizing a coil-sprung live axle located by trailing arms and a Panhard rod. Often sold in "component form" to bypass UK purchase taxes, the Genie remains a rare piece of Welsh automotive history, with only approximately 280 units ever produced before it evolved into the Invader series.